Brake caliper rebuild tip...

Jay Auskin · 05-13-2004, 04:49 PM

I'm not sure if I'm stating anything new here, but I found a new way to remove stubborn brake caliper pistons. Screw a grease fitting into the brake line thread, and pump that thing up using your hand grease gun. The advantage over air is the pistons don't come flying out. Just a nice, smooth extraction.

The downside is you need to run it through a solvent tank, as it will of course, be filled with grease.

I hope this helps someone!

Ray B · 05-13-2004, 04:52 PM

Thanks Jay. Your tip may come in handy. I'm doing all 4 corners next week- calipers, hoses, bearings,etc.. Ray

Jay Auskin · 05-13-2004, 04:56 PM

Good luck Ray! You're saving yourself a bundle. If you do use air DO NOT get your hand in the way of the piston. It will crush your fingers. On my '72, the brake line thread was an M10 x 1.0mm pitch (this is a fine thread). Might make the fitting search a little easier

einreb · 05-13-2004, 04:56 PM

Jay,

Get the engine installed and running. Stop worrying about silly things like brakes.

-Bernie

Jay Auskin · 05-13-2004, 04:59 PM

HAH--I was about to "schedule" the install...I bled the brakes, and the rears were completely locked up after pumping the pedal for the final "test". These things were really rough, I'm glad I did it.

project911 · 05-13-2004, 05:49 PM

Nice Idea!

I used a 12volt air compressor plugged into the cig lighter for all of mine.

rbcsaver · 05-13-2004, 07:31 PM

I used air. First piston, I didn't remove fingers and piston almost did. Darn , that smarts! Getting the rubber piston boot with metal band on is a true bear and can result in rubber tears. I made a tool out of 1.5 in PVC pipe on which I thinned the wall.
regards,
Steve

Zeke · 05-13-2004, 08:22 PM

When using air, I put a block of wood in between and then a towel over so the residule fluid dosen't go all over. That happened once before I learned.

notmytarga · notmytarga's Garage

I had similar control with a bicycle pump - and no grease. The brake fluid wreaked the plastic valve clamp head - but it worked better using the hose directly to the hard brake line.

A new grease gun without grease would be a nice controlled pump.

IROC · IROC's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Zeke
When using air, I put a block of wood in between and then a towel over so the residule fluid dosen't go all over. That happened once before I learned.

To expand on this good suggestion, I use a block of wood and C-clamp it to the piston I don't want to remove (so that it can't move) and blast the other one out with air pressure.

Mike